The ranking reflects the result of the last four years, including the 2014 Olympic Winter Games and its qualification events, as well as the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championships from 2011 to 2013.

The Swiss move up thanks to their second bronze in three years at the expense of Finland (now 4th) and Russia (5th), who dropped by one place. They’re followed by Sweden (6th) and Germany (7th), whose placements remained the same.

The Czech Republic (8th) and Sochi 2014 qualifier Japan (9th) moved up one place apiece, while Slovakia, which played in Vancouver 2010, fell down two spots and now comes in tenth place ahead of Norway.

Denmark made the biggest move thanks to its successful Olympic Qualification campaign and went up from 17th to 12th place.

The 2014 IIHF Women’s World Ranking includes 36 countries who have competed in the Women’s World Championship program in the last few years. It reflects the long-term quality of the national women’s hockey programs and is also used to determine the seeding and qualification for Olympic women’s ice hockey tournaments.